So, what is the difference between a mage, wizard, and a sorcerer?

So, what is the difference between a mage, wizard, and a sorcerer?

It depends on setting but generally a mage is a generic magic user, wizards are studious and in the case of DnD sorcerers are people who get magic because they are 2cool or something.

(you)Depends on the setting

We had this thread yesterday.

Also, mage is just a generic term for magic user and does not denote specific abilities.

Mages cast fireballs
Wizards read spells
Sorcerers summon demons

>mage generic magic user
>wizard someone who studies and made magic their life
>A sorcerer was a faggot born into magic

Or you know just different names for a magic user.

wizards learn spells through practice and study, they learn new powers and abilities through a greater understanding of the universe. they read books, experiment with magic, and formulate equations

sorcerers have a natural proficiency to sue magic, and by knowing their own body and mind, they can find new ways to use their gift. the more they use their power the stronger it becomes, and like a muscle they become stronger through repeated exercise

Mage is a corruption of Magi which was a caste of aristocratic magic users in ancient times. In it's abbreviated form it's become a generic term for any spellcaster. This term is usually used by non casters.

Wizard is a job like doctor or lawyer. Being a wizard implies you went to school and have a license. It also implies that you will obey the laws of gods and men and not use your magic for petty shit.

Sorcery is the technical scientific term for magic. Some pretentious magic users prefer to call themselves sorcerers because they resent being bound by the laws of gods and men.

Enchanter/enchantment is the elvish word for sorcerer/sorcery. If somebody calls themselves an enchanter they are either an Elf or an feyaboo.

Warlock means oath breaker. In the context of magic, it implies that they are are not properly licensed and likely to violate the laws of gods and men.

Witch is a vulgar contraction of Warlock and bitch. It refers to a female warlock, however some edgy female magic users wear it as a badge of pride.

There's a few different ways, but here's my 2 favorites
Mage-A novice, studying to become a true wizard
Wizard-Someone who has studied for their entire life and is strong enough to shoot fireballs and such
Sorcerer-A true master of magic, they can level castles with a blast of arcane power
And
Mage-Someone who can cast spells that are destructive, like evocation and such.Usually wields a short sword or spear to back up their spells and a few can wear lighter armors.
Wizard-Someone who casts utility and buff spells to teleport, feed people, build walls, etc.
Sorcerer-Someone who is naturally a mage, can wear armor and cast quite easily, unlike wizards and most mages.

>Branding rights

Mage is short for magus, which is a learned/wise person.

Wizard is the same, but from a different root language.

Sorcerer is a sorter of lots, as in casting lots for divination.

Mage describes a magic user in general
Wizards gain magic through study
Sorcerers gain magic through innate magical power.

>sorcerers have a natural proficiency to sue magic
Natural rules-lawyers. Yep.

This is heavily setting-dependent.

However, in my games, they tend to have the following definitions:

Mage: a practitioner of magic, of any type, of any skill level. I.e., the most generic moniker possible, with no implications of skill.

Wizard: A mage who has undergone formal study at one of the several formal schools, and passed peer review for both skill and research. Basically the equivalent of a Ph.D.

Sorcerer: a self-taught, not-formally-trained mage. Looked down upon by most Wizards. Magically, they tend to be sort of idiot savants, who are exceptionally gifted in a small area, with no clear reason as to why, and unable to cast other spells that Wizards consider to be trivial.

Bonus round:
Warlocks are the pact-makers. But the PCs (all Wizards; the first story arc was them graduating from magic school and earning the title) don't know about them yet.

Just from a large mix of media books and vidya, this is my take.

Wizards can weave the arcane and mana through practice, they're power is only limited to what they can control, they can bend reality and cause thunderstorms in deserts, start fire underwater, even slow or stop time as long as they have the knowledge and mana to do so, which is why wizards specialize in different abilities. Time wizard, Pyro wizard, Arcane wizard.

Mage is extremely similar to wizard. But instead of manipulating the arcane, mages, magi, magic users, pull the power from their mana to create, which is why most of the time mages control elements, lightning, fire, ice. It's important not to think "create" means pull from nothing, that's something a wizard can do because they bend reality, mages cannot tap into arcane, arcane does not exist in settings with magi. People don't like the term wizard now so "mage" is the new wizard (example, skyrim)

Sorcerer is someone born with a gift, boon, or other similar thing, they are gifts from gods, decedent from dragons, just fucking lucky, and normally cocky for being so. Magic to them is like breathing, they can exist in arcana or non-arcana settings and can pick up magic at the snap of their fingers. They don't need to study, but their magic is often unstable, and some find the magic so natural to them, is uncontrollable. Like handing a gun to a child, they know it's power, even if they don't fully understand it, and while they won't try to hurt others or themselves, they're very likely to do so. It's often their own arrogance that forms a sort of mental shield to the fear of the power residing inside of them. Tricking them self so they can remain calm.

>tl;Dr
Wizard learns through study, can bend reality.
Mage learns through study, cannot bend reality.
Sorcerers are natural born magic users that can hardly contain their power without practice.

...

None. Magic users are called different things based on culture and rank.

>amount of beard is directly related to power level

How much is the beckbeard worth?

Mage is a bit simplified Wizard subclass released in essentials, as such it is an INT primary controller with high AoE damage output, just like the Wizard itself. Sorcerer is a CHA based striker with some secondary blasting and controlling options. They are both arcane classes.

I kind of like Dresden Files definitions.

Sorcerer is just anyone with enough training and/or talent to hurl about bolts of fire and shit. A wizard is someone who can do what sorcerers can do and in addition is learned and talented enough to use advanced magic and create his own spells and shit. And mage is just a fancy word for a wizard.

...

So Rick Sanchez is literally CM?

A wizard is a guy who went to university and claims that the only path to success is education

A mage is a guy who, after high school, went for an apprenticeship at his local garage. Ten years later he now owns a successful chain of garages and claims the path to success is getting your hands dirty

A sorcerer is the guy who inherited himself into wealth.

'Bout fitty bucks.